Mcelhinney, Hurricanes shut down Penguins
PITTSBURGH — Curtis Mcelhinney stopped 23 shots, Brett Pesce and Jordan Martinook scored from way out and Michael Ferland and Andrei Svechnikov poured it on late as the Carolina Hurricanes began a pivotal fivegame trip with a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.
Mcelhinney collected his first shutout of the season and ninth of his 11-year career by stuffing Jared Mccann and Jake Guentzel with sprawling saves in the first period and never letting up as the Hurricanes picked up two big points as they try to stay in the mix for their first playoff berth in nearly a decade.
CAPITALS 3, CANUCKS 2: T.J. Oshie scored as part of a dominant performance, Braden Holtby made 30 saves and stopped a penalty shot and the Washington Capitals beat the Vancouver Canucks in Jay Beagle’s return to his old home arena.
Alex Ovechkin assisted on Oshie’s 16th goal of the season to pick up his 1,180th career point and become NHL’S all-time scoring leader among Russian players.
BLUES 3, PANTHERS 2: Vince Dunn scored with 3:53 left to cap a thirdperiod rally from a two-goal deficit and lift the St. Louis Blues over the Florida Panthers.
BRUINS 3, ISLANDERS 1: Patrice Bergeron celebrated his 1,000th career game with a pair of goals as the Boston Bruins beat the New York Islanders. Bergeron is just the fifth player in Bruins’ history to play 1,000 games with the club.
KINGS 5, DEVILS 1: Tyler Toffoli scored twice in 35 seconds early in the third period to spark Los Angeles.
CANADIENS 4, DUCKS 1: Brendan Gallagher had two goals and an assist, and Montreal beat slumping Anaheim.
SABRES 5, WILD 4, SO: Sam Reinhart scored the lone shootout goal and Buffalo won for just the third time in nine games.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3, LIGHTNING 2, SO: Alex Tuch scored the only goal in a shootout and the Vegas Golden Knights halted a four-game losing streak.
PREDATORS 5, COYOTES 2: Craig Smith, Filip Forsberg and Ryan Ellis scored in the second period, and the Nashville Predators snapped a three-game skid at home.
SHARKS 3, JETS 2, OT: Joe Pavelski scored a shorthanded goal 2:49 into overtime to lead the San Jose Sharks to an overtime win.
MAPLE LEAFS SIGN MATTHEWS TO FIVEYEAR EXTENSION: The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed star center Auston Matthews to a five-year contract extension.
The former first overall draft pick is in his third season with the Leafs. The 21-year-old from Scottsdale, Ariz., has has 23 goals and 23 assists in 38 games this season.